The Gally Blog: Who Is the ‘Blogfather?’

JE Skeets CAN ACT LIKE A MAN!

The gents at The Gally Blog "swooped in to debate who should be cast in the roles of the classic Francis Ford Coppola film series if all the parts were cast as sports bloggers."

It's phenomenal. CLICK HERE.

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Blogs With Balls Radio, Episode 18

This week’s Blogs With Balls Show on the JoeSportsFan Radio Network is now available.

Download Episode 18 here, or subscribe via iTunes.

Today we celebrate the godliness of New Orleans Saint Tracey Porter.

And are reminiscent of Calvin Pace's early words of praise to us for Rex Ryan.

HHR @ NFL Draft Classic - Calvin Pace and the Defensive Mastermind from HHR on Vimeo.

Shifting gears from NFL playoff and Super Bowl talk, we bring on guest Lang Whitaker, executive editor at SLAM Magazine, columnist at Hawks.com and author of a forthcoming memoir on Bobby Cox and growing up a Braves fan.


Lang talks about the unique relationship the magazine was able to develop with the NBA's biggest stars and teams.

As someone who dabbles and excels in and on so many platforms, Lang brings insight to how writing in general is affected by the immediacy of the Internet age:

"The more you write online, the better a writer it makes you. You learn to deal with immediate reactions from people. You understand what the audience looks for in stories...But at the same time, I learned a long time ago you cant 100% give in to what people want you to do. At some point you stay true to yourself and you hope the audience likes what you're doing."

Keep an eye out for Searching for Bobby Cox, due out February 2011, which is a Julie and Julia-esq memoir of lessons Lang's "learned about life by watching Bobby Cox managing the Braves."

This week's links of interest:

• langwhitaker.com
• @langwhitaker
• SLAM Online
• @SLAMOnline
• The Last Word (Hawks.com)
• NBA TV
• @NBATV
• Lang Whitaker SI.com Archive
• Blogs With Balls Radio, Episode 3 (Mitch Germann)
• True Hoops
• Ball Don't Lie
• Hoops Hype
• The Basketball Jones
• Malcolm Gladwell, Annals of Business, “The Sure Thing,” The New Yorker
• F**k you all -- by Adrian Peterson, RB, Bears (Sports Pickle)

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Blogs With Balls Radio, Episode 9

After a broadcasting layoff in the wake of BlogsWithBalls 2.0 in Vegas, we're back.

This week’s Blogs With Balls Show on the JoeSportsFan Radio Network is now available.

Download Episode 9 Here.



Making its triumphant return along with us is the Ballsy Blog of the Week. This week we profile FanDuel.com. While not a blog, per se, the site definitely has a set of stones.

Somehow managing to get itself (and more specifically - fantasy sports as a whole) classified as games of chance rather than gambling, the site allows users to win cash money doing what guys do anyway - playing fantasy sports.

What's more, is you don't have to wait (or even play) an entire season for a payout - you pay to play by the game.

We'll let them explain...

1. Draft your team

First, pick your fantasy team based on which players you think will score the most fantasy league points during the upcoming NFL or MLB games (MLB games are daily and NFL are weekly)...Once you've picked your players you should order your draft by clicking on each player and dragging it into position. Then you order your selection ready for the competitive draft with your opponent. [Note: NBA & NHL now available]

2. Set your entry fee and choose an opponent

Select who you want to go head-to-head with (either a real-life friend or a Fanduel buddy,or even your whole fantasy league!), how much you want the entry fee to be and send them your challenge. The draft takes place and we'll email you your final roster- and you can see your opponent's team too.

3. Get paid instantly when you win

Then sit back and watch the real-time stats roll in for both your team and your opponent's team as the action begins. The team which scores the most fantasy points by the end of the day is the winner - and walks away with the cash prize!

Simple as pie.

Our guest this week is Yardbarker.com CEO Pete Vlateslica. We are lucky to get a chance to speak with Pete on the heals of the recently announced partnership between Yardbarker and FoxSports.com.


Pete goes into some detail about the deal, the relationship between marketers and bloggers, the current focus of Yardbarker and some of the new features that will be available through the portal in the near future.

We put him Skyped Up with "Name That Barker" where we see if he can identify some of the athletes in his site's stable of stars.

This week’s links of interest:

• Blogs With Balls
• Yardbarker.com
• FanDuel.com
• Kyle Harrison's Blog
• Calvin Pace's Blog
• Gina Cerano's Blog
• Vernon Davis' Blog
• Chicks Dig Fast Eaters (Pat Bertoletti & Joey Chestnut's Blog)
• Twitter.com/petevlastelica
• Twitter.com/FanDuel

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BwB 2.0 Recaps, Round 1

Puck Daddy in Vegas: 21 observations about hockey, gambling, new media journalism and Blogs With Balls 2.0 (Yahoo! Sports' Puck Daddy)

"My Blogs With Balls panel dealt with blogger access to sports, and it was a pleasure to debate with the issues with Mitch Germann, the vice-president of communications with the Sacramento Kings; John Karalis of the Boston Celtics' blog Red's Army; Patrick Wixted of New Media Strategies; and our moderator Dan Levy of On The DL.

...I think every blogger who wants access, and can demonstrate that his or her audience will be better served with access, should have the chance to gain it. That goes for burgeoning journalists or fan bloggers."

Blogs with Balls in Las Vegas Wrap-up (Gunaxin)

"HHR Media and Friends put on a hell of a show, again. Don, Chris, and assorted friends have pulled off another fabulous event, and left everyone in awe of their ability to pull shit together. First rate communication via the website, Facebook, e-mails, and even the printed program once we arrived at the event made it easy for attendees and panelists. From the professionally produced intro video and the folks documenting the entire event on film and video, all details were taken care of in an expert manner."

Top Sports Bloggers and Poker Celebrities Join Annie Duke for Blogs With Balls Charity Shootout Benefiting Ante Up for Africa (GreasieWheels Blog)

"On Friday, October 16th, professional poker players and top sports bloggers representing ESPN, Fox Sports, Yahoo, AOL, Sports Illustrated, Gawker Media, Yardbarker, SB Nation, and many more came together for Blogs with Balls, a charity poker shootout at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Poker Lounge. The fundraiser was held in conjunction with the BlogWorld & New Media 2009 Expo in Las Vegas...

The event raised awareness and $10,000 for Ante Up for Africa, a charity founded by Duke and award-winning actor Don Cheadle to aid relief and support human rights efforts in Darfur."

Jalen, Vegas, and why it matters to you (Red's Army)

"So while I loved the excuse to get out to Vegas, this trip really was about you... the readers. In the coming months, we hope some of these meetings manifest themselves in cool new features and guests. We have some things in the works now and we're hoping to bring them to you either by the beginning of the Celtics season... or shortly after they begin."

Fear, Loathing and Blogs in Las Vegas (Sporting Madness: Part I, Part II, Part III)

"There are too many people in the blog world who focus on trying to replace the mainstream media, and too many mainstream journalists who are worried about being replaced by blogs and Tweets."

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Announcing: “Blogs with Balls Charity Poker Shootout”

Top Sports Bloggers and Poker Celebrities, Including Annie Duke, to Join Up For Charity
BLOGS WITH BALLS CHARITY POKER SHOOTOUT SET FOR OCTOBER 16TH IN LAS VEGAS

Las Vegas, Nevada (September 28, 2009) – On October 16th, many of the top sports bloggers and poker players in the world will get together for the Blogs with Balls Charity Poker Shootout, held in conjunction with BlogWorld & New Media Expo in Las Vegas.

Each table in the 100-person Shootout, generously underwritten by Carbon Poker, will feature sports writers from the leading sports media companies, including ESPN, Fox Sports, Yahoo, AOL, Sports Illustrated, Gawker Media, Yardbarker, SB Nation and more. In addition, each table will feature one of the best professional poker players in the world, including Annie Duke – a WSOP bracelet winner and runner up on Donald Trump’s Celebrity Apprentice on NBC.

The Shootout has been organized to raise money and awareness for Ante Up for Africa, a charity founded by Duke and award-winning actor Don Cheadle to aid relief efforts in Darfur through poker events. In the last three years, Ante Up for Africa has raised more than $5 million dollars to help support human rights work in Darfur.

In addition to raising money for charity, the event will have both cash and prizes for the top finishers, as well as knockout bonuses and other fun and valuable giveaways from sponsors. An announcement with additional sponsors and full list of professional players signed on to play will be forthcoming.

The event, taking place at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino’s new poker lounge, begins at 8pm. For more information on the Shootout, including sponsorship opportunities and media/interview requests or to get a seat in the tournament visit blogswithballs.com or email info[at]hhrmediagroup[dot]com.

About Blogs with Balls

Blogs with Balls is a series of social sports blogger and new media gatherings featuring speakers and panelists specifically focused on sports fans, writers, sites, teams, athletes and companies; and their ability to maximize new media outlets for promotion and advancement.

In addition to writers and executives from the largest online sports outlets on the web, speakers at BwB 2.0 at the BlogWorld & New Media Expo include former NBA star Jalen Rose, television, web and print personality Kevin Blackistone, representatives from ESPN and The Sports Illustrated Group, Sacramento Kings VP of Communications Mitch Germann, and many more.

For a full list of speakers, panelists and scheduled discussion topics, please visit blogswithballs.com/panels-20. For more information on BlogWorld & New Media Expo, please visit blogworldexpo.com.

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WaPo: Fans Cannot Be Involved in Recruiting, but the Line Blurs

As more and more fan-based, school-specific blogs are being granted similar access and credentialling as members of the traditional media, they are radically changing the role fan-publishers are taking in the college recruiting process, and, in turn, creating headaches for NCAA and school compliance officers.

NCAA rules explicitly state that fans of teams cannot be involved in recruiting, but those regulations blur when the fan wears a media credential. Such credentials, which are issued by whatever entity is running a particular event, designate the bearers as media members, giving them access to prospects that even college coaches don’t have during the all-important summer evaluation period. College coaches are not permitted to interact with prospects during the period.

NCAA officials and prominent figures on the summer basketball circuit are alarmed at an increasing number of fans who are creating Web sites, obtaining media credentials and becoming amateur recruiters. Rachel Newman-Baker, the NCAA’s agent, gambling and amateurism director, said one of the organization’s biggest concerns this summer was who was obtaining media credentials and for what purpose.

Click here for the full story.

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Draft Day

This season, HHR will be participating in a VIP fantasy football league at the National Football Post sponsored by Coors Light. Among our fellow league managers will be the brains behind Yardbarker, Awful Announcing, Black Sports Online, Fansided and others.

I can only hope all our competition follows the lead of Yardbarker's Dewey Hammond and tips their hands and shows their strategy each week:

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Setting the Record Straight: #imnot

Many of our faithful readers and Twitter followers are well aware of our temporary two-day suspension from the 140-character micro-blog this week.

To clear up the mystery, in a nut shell, someone complained that @HHReynolds was impersonating Harold Reynolds, and as such, violated Twitter terms.

After reflection, I understand this could be an issue. It is not uncommon that people contact the blog addressing inquiries and comments to our Patron Saint. That said, we are very straight forward and respond to each of them to clear up any confusion. On Twitter specifically, I publicly inform Tweeters when they make this error. We never, ever pose as anything other than a sports blog who simply pays homage to one of the best baseball analysts in the biz.

I do not begrudge Twitter for addressing this. I am disappointed at the way it was handled: my account was suspended without explanation. After addressing this with support staff, I credit them for helping me rectify the situation.

But be warned bloggers who pay tribute to athletes and personalities in your platforms' monikers: You could be next.

Let's then, clear the air.

This blog:


Has no affiliation or anything to do with this person:



This blog:


Has no affiliation or anything to do with this person:



TiricoSuave


Is NOT Mike Tirico's blog.


The blog's writer clarifies: "The real Tirico only wears his Viking helmet and Flav clock on rare occasions nowadays. There should be no confusion."

In order to reinstate my account, I had to clarify my Twitter bio. Instead of our site's mantra, "We Embrace Sports," it now reads: "Official Twitter feed for the sports blog HuggingHaroldReynolds.com, NOT Harold Reynolds."

I even took it a step further and changed my icon:


Last night, fearing they would be the next to feel the wrath of Twitter, sports Tweeters banded together and came clean in a hashtagged "#imnot" campaign.


Before we take a look, one more bit of clarity about HHR courtesy of @Adambuckled:

"Did Twitter think the 2nd H was Harold's middle initial, like @JHChrist? For the record, @HHReynolds isn't the Son of God either."

Now, here are some "De-verified" accounts:


@RedsArmy: Before twitter suspends me like @HHReynolds. Im NOT RedAuerbach.





@dochowser: I am not Neil Patrick Harris.






@aleagueofherown: and i don't really have a league of my own






@TalkHoops: I'm NOT a logo with a basketball for a face.







@BarkleysMouth: And I'm NOT Chuck... Altho I'm fat like him.






@whygavs: And I am in no way Andy Van Slyke.






@babeslovebball: I frickin hate baseball.






@MrWhiteDevil: I'm not Satan






@AngryHack: I'm not really Angry, but certainly Hack.






@THHB: For those who missed it earlier, #imnot Dominique Wilkins---he's the player, I'm the blogger.





@DetTigerfan22: I'm not a giant cement Tiger. I'm human.






@fangsbites: #imnot a vampire. Please don't ban me.






@russbengtson: Before twitter suspends me like @HHReynolds. #ImNot a disembodied yellow avatar.






@appl3s: #imnot really an apple.






@ketoole: #imnot really green.






@Need4Sheed_com: I'm Sheed but nobody believes me.






@roto_tudor: to be clear, I'm neither John Tudor, nor Henry VIII, nor in any way associated with the Roto Rooter company.





@jeskeets: And I am NOT Steve Nash ...






@jeskeets: ... nor Jiri Welsch






@jeskeets: ... nor Samantha Ronson.






@sweetbob: #imnot Capt. Lou Albano






@firebruntlett: Fire Eric Bruntlett is in no way associated or related to Eric Bruntlett. We just enjoying mocking and hating him.





@AestheticsGirl: Before Twitter suspends me like @HHReynolds. #ImNot Paul Pierce. I didn't throw a pitch at R-Sox Game. Am a Girl who likes Aesthetic Theory.





@mredonkulous: I am Oliver Miller #imnot






@pop_martian: BTW, I am not a Lego incarnation of Edward Hopper's classic 1942 painting "Nighthawks." #ImNot #SaveHHR






@thegnc: #imnot a store for training supplements






@RumorsandRants: Despite what my avatar may lead you to believe, #imnot Sam The Eagle





@RoundballMiner: I do not burrow into the earth with shovels and dynamite hoping to find basketballs. I'm living a lie. #ImNot





@RidiculousScott: #ImNot Mr. Belding






@whatthenoelle: Before twitter suspends me like @HHReynolds--Unfortunately #ImNot Stan Van Gundy. Fortunately #ImNot SVG impersonating Paul Blart . Or am I?




@TomFornelli: Tom Fornelli is a drifter I killed years ago and whose identity I stole. My real name is Armin Tamzarian.





@loljocks_grimey: Before my account gets suspended by Twitter, I'm NOT hiding behind the upper-right hand corner on Tic-Tac-Dough #imnot





@DSB_MaxPower: #imnot I'm not Max Power, but it's the name you'd love to touch but you mustn't touch #Simpsons





@thejonlee: Before twitter suspends me like @HHReynolds. #ImNot thejo...n/m I actually am jon lee. Carry on.





@plamorte: I am not @plamorte....oh wait yes I am! Guess I can throw away this pic I was going to make my default... http://bit.ly/wQ4EJ





@avoidingthedrop: I AM actually a soccerball. All the other soccerballs need to step off.

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